A lot of people say the Battle began when my third daughter was born last September. The Battle, of course, being my attempt to preserve some manhood in a house full of women. However, I did not see it right away. I guess because the girls were still so young or that I was just happy that our third child was healthy and happy and had all of her fingers and toes. Also, since I had already been staying at home for a year and half and had not noticed any major changes, I did not think anything of adding another female to the mix. For me, a cheapskate at heart, I was just thrilled that we would not have to buy all new clothes or toys for a boy. We already had so much girl stuff that our third daughter would be all set.
Nor did I realize I was in a Battle when a lot of my favorite things were beginning to be ignored or downsized or eliminated from my daily life: watching an entire football game, playing golf, watching men's college basketball, etc. I didn't realize it even when these endeavors were interrupted by "Daddy, can you be the prince?" or "We want to have a tea party," or very silly questions about the sport I was watching (Tiger Woods' 'goal,' for example).
No, for me, the real battle began just a few months ago. The girls and I were driving along in the minivan, listening to a CD of different Disney Princess songs. There were two things that went terribly wrong. First, I found myself singing the words to the songs. Now this may not seem so bad since I have seen the movies several times and after listening to any song, no matter how much you do not like it, it will get stuck in your head. You can somewhat rationalize that part. But, when you add in the fact that I was involved in deep conversations with my two older daughters about the princesses lives and that I knew more about them then my daughters, well, that was when I knew something was wrong.
Right then at that moment I felt like a part of my Y chromosome was gradually being chipped away. I began to think to myself that I am already getting overrun by feminine things and my daughters are only 6, 4 and 4 months. What was I going to do when they were 19, 17, and 13???
The sad thing is I know this battle will now last me for the next several decades, if not for my entire life. I will always be outnumbered until my daughters get married. Even then I know it will not be the same since my future son-in-laws will not be blood, but at least I will have other men to be around during family events. But then, knowing my luck, I will have all girl grandchildren.
With that said, no matter how long the battle lasts, I must never give in or give up. My "Y" chromosome must remain as intact as it was on the day I was born.
Nor did I realize I was in a Battle when a lot of my favorite things were beginning to be ignored or downsized or eliminated from my daily life: watching an entire football game, playing golf, watching men's college basketball, etc. I didn't realize it even when these endeavors were interrupted by "Daddy, can you be the prince?" or "We want to have a tea party," or very silly questions about the sport I was watching (Tiger Woods' 'goal,' for example).
No, for me, the real battle began just a few months ago. The girls and I were driving along in the minivan, listening to a CD of different Disney Princess songs. There were two things that went terribly wrong. First, I found myself singing the words to the songs. Now this may not seem so bad since I have seen the movies several times and after listening to any song, no matter how much you do not like it, it will get stuck in your head. You can somewhat rationalize that part. But, when you add in the fact that I was involved in deep conversations with my two older daughters about the princesses lives and that I knew more about them then my daughters, well, that was when I knew something was wrong.
Right then at that moment I felt like a part of my Y chromosome was gradually being chipped away. I began to think to myself that I am already getting overrun by feminine things and my daughters are only 6, 4 and 4 months. What was I going to do when they were 19, 17, and 13???
The sad thing is I know this battle will now last me for the next several decades, if not for my entire life. I will always be outnumbered until my daughters get married. Even then I know it will not be the same since my future son-in-laws will not be blood, but at least I will have other men to be around during family events. But then, knowing my luck, I will have all girl grandchildren.
With that said, no matter how long the battle lasts, I must never give in or give up. My "Y" chromosome must remain as intact as it was on the day I was born.
